Poll results: US stands to be profitable, but legislation poses a risk

Egaming companies are right to gamble on a regulated US market, with the majority of eGaming Review readers believing the country to represent a profitable market for online gambling.

Forty per cent of correspondents consider movements in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey to hold great potential for egaming operators while also remaining measured in accepting it may not be the cash cow some have hyped it up to be.

Others are considerably more bullish about the market’s value, with 8% of readers expecting the US to become a major source of revenues for operators active in the nation.

California, with a population in excess of 38 million, is continues to flirt with legislation while other states will look on with interest to see how New Jersey copes following its planned November launch. Success in the state could feasibly trigger a domino effect, opening up new revenue streams.

The prospect of legislation does, however, remain a considerable obstacle to overcome, and 33% of respondents believe that this barrier will significantly restrict the size of any potential US market.

Nevada senator Harry Reid is still rumoured to be considering a gambling prohibition law and opposition to egaming remains rife in a number of states. While the prospect of increasing revenues through egaming taxation may be difficult to ignore for some, others appear prepared to dismiss the market’s potential value altogether.

Nineteen per cent of eGR readers believe that the US will be dominated by local companies already well versed in the nuances and demands of what is a complicated market with very different trends to that of Europe.

Companies like IGT and High 5 Games, who will provide software to New Jersey’s initial tranche of legalised operators, have already gained traction via established land-based divisions, and are arguably in a much better position to cater for US gamers’ needs.